Have a 'n-ice' time on the Lancaster rink

Friday

Jan 3, 2014 at 6:00 AM

By Lynne Klaft ITEM CORRESPONDENT

LANCASTER — This winter's unseasonably cold and frigid weather has brought about one positive recreational feature to Lancaster — the completion of the Nathaniel Thayer Memorial Park community skating rink.

The Thayer Field Campus Committee and the Lancaster Fire Department set-up and filled the rink this past week in anticipation of a weekend opening.

A new location was chosen right behind the Memorial School building, where the old school playground used to be.

Aldrich Excavating assisted in the site preparation, leveling and bringing in fill to make the site an all-season recreation spot. During the warmer months, the area will be used for bocce courts and horseshoe pits.

The Campus Committee made repairs to the rink liner in the Community Center's gymnasium to stretch another season's use out of the liner.

"The 'Yankee' repairs saved us the expense of buying a brand new liner. The liner and the boards were graciously donated to the town by Perkins School last year," said Susan Smiley, chairman of the Campus Committee.

Assisting committee members Cliff McMullan and Win Clark with the set-up and filling it with water was Fire Chief Mike Hanson, Ryan Aldrich, Courtney Manning, Chris Whynot and Tom Fitzgerald.

Kimball's donated funds to the project for the purchase of items to repair the liner and setting up the rink.

Depending on the weather conditions this weekend, the committee anticipates a Friday opening after shoveling off the expected snow. Check the website, www.thayerfieldf.org, for announcements, opening dates and times.

The committee is looking for volunteers and sponsors, and donations for its ongoing efforts at Thayer Memorial Park. For information, you can call Smiley at (978) 365-1829, or email her at sse1029@gmail.com.

"We are so grateful to be able to bring this recreation element back to our Lancaster community and this park project effort. Our committee is excited to announce the second annual Lancaster Winter Festival date of Saturday, Feb. 8, with a back-up date of Feb. 22. Many of the popular items will be back, including the student art exhibit, the silly hat contest, the firemen's bonfire — don't forget to donate your Christmas tree. And the ice sculpting, too," Smiley said.

She promises that there will be new and exciting things for Lancastrians to participate in; further announcements will be made on the website as the event draws closer.

Meanwhile, dust off your ice skates and come on down to see the new ice rink location behind the Memorial School this weekend. If you have the time and wherewithal, the committee can use extra hands and shovels to ready the rink for the 2014 skating season. Call Smiley at (978) 365-1829 to find out time and place where volunteers will be gathering.